What is ADHD?
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a psychological disorder that commonly manifests itself in early childhood and can last well into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Can Social Media Use Cause ADHD Symptoms to Worsen?
In 2019, a study was conducted on Lebanese high school students with varying levels of ADHD to see if excessive social media use could increase symptoms of ADHD. The results concluded that more social media use was strongly correlated with a higher likelihood of having ADHD. In addition, when anxiety was added as an independent variable, higher anxiety was associated with higher odds of having ADHD.
How Social Media Can Increase the Severity of Inattentive Symptoms
As the 2019 study concluded, higher social media use is correlated with symptoms of ADHD in adolescents and young adults. Many people with ADHD have more of an issue of focusing their attention than having a lack of attention. Therefore, when they are focused on something, they are completely absorbed in that task. If that task happens to be scrolling on social media, the effects can be detrimental.
Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria and Social Media
Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD, is a term used by mental health professionals to describe severe emotional distress that is caused by the perception of rejection. It is something that appears to manifest itself more often in people with ADHD. Feelings of RSD could possibly be heightened by social media use. For example, say that someone makes a post on Instagram and it only gets two likes. This could result in an episode of RSD, since the person might feel rejected by the people on Instagram.
Solutions
So how can someone with ADHD regulate an Internet addiction? Here are some tips:
- Prioritizing activities that improve executive functioning and well-being (sleep, physical activity, zero-distraction homework, etc.).
- Limit time on or stay off social media.
- Disabling push notifications.
- Removing phones from the dinner table.
- Putting limitations on how many times you can open certain apps.
- Therapy
Sources
Aspyn Call, Paige Adams, Randy Beede
NMD 200 - Jon Ippolito
https://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/neurodevelopmental/association-between-problematic-social-media-use-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-sample-lebanese-adults/#:~:text=of%20this%20article.-,Clinical%20Points,network%20sites%20significantly%20decreased%20attention.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24099-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-rsd#:~:text=Rejection%20sensitive%20dysphoria%20(RSD)%20is,to%20differences%20in%20brain%20structure.
https://www.sciencealert.com/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-correlation-social-media-use-adolescents
https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/what-social-media-does-to-an-adhd-brain/
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-problems-with-social-media/
https://adhdwellnesscenter.com/effects-of-social-media-on-mental-health/
https://modestoketamine.com/2022/01/what-a-social-media-detox-can-do-for-those-struggling-with-adhd/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5517818/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2626918/
Credits:
Created with images by Blue Planet Studio - "Omni channel technology of online retail business. Multichannel marketing on social media network platform offer service of internet payment channel, online retail shopping and omni digital app." • Andrey Popov - "Pills;Glasses And Stethoscope With Text Diagnosis ADHD" • Looker_Studio - "Social media interactions on mobile phone, concept with notification icons of like, message, email, comment and star above smartphone screen, person hands holding device, internet digital marketing" • Blue Planet Studio - "Social media icons fly over city downtown showing people engagement connection through social network application platform . Concept for online community and social media marketing strategy ." • Farknot Architect - "A businessman working with feeling frustrated and stressed with screwed up papers and laptop on table in office" • Looker_Studio - "female hands holding red heart, world mental health day and world heart day, Life and health insurance, concept of love."